Herman Wedemeyer
Encyclopedia
Herman John Wedemeyer was an American
actor, football
player, and politician
. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O
(1972–1980).
, played college football
for the St. Mary's College
Galloping Gaels in Moraga, CA. In 1945, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy
voting, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
in 1979. Wedemeyer was Hawai'i's first consensus All-American football player. He bore the colorful nicknames 'Squirmin' Herman,' 'The Flyin' Hawaiian,' 'The Hawaiian Centipede,' and 'The Hula-Hipped Hawaiian.'
Wedemeyer was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dons
of the All-America Football Conference
in 1948. Despite leading the AAFC in punt return yardage that year, he was waived by the Dons. He was then signed by the AAFC Baltimore Colts
, with whom he played in 1949 before retiring from professional sports for good.
Herman was the brother of Charlie Wedemeyer
, a former Michigan State football player who gained fame when, as a football coach at Los Gatos High School
, he contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease and continued to coach for many years, despite his handicap. He is the subject of a television movie called Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story.
as a Republican
. In 1970, he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives
as a Democrat
, winning re-election in 1972.
from 1971 to 1980, appearing in 143 episodes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is best known for portraying 'Sergeant/Detective "Duke" Lukela' on the crime drama Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
(1972–1980).
Sports hero
Wedemeyer, attended St. Louis School in Honolulu and was a standout in both football and baseball. Wedemeyer, a halfbackHalfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the St. Mary's College
Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
Galloping Gaels in Moraga, CA. In 1945, he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1979. Wedemeyer was Hawai'i's first consensus All-American football player. He bore the colorful nicknames 'Squirmin' Herman,' 'The Flyin' Hawaiian,' 'The Hawaiian Centipede,' and 'The Hula-Hipped Hawaiian.'
Wedemeyer was a first-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dons
Los Angeles Dons
The Los Angeles Dons were an American football team in the now defunct All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949 that played in the Los Angeles Coliseum....
of the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
in 1948. Despite leading the AAFC in punt return yardage that year, he was waived by the Dons. He was then signed by the AAFC Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts (1947-50)
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The first team to bear the name Baltimore Colts, they were members of the All-America Football Conference from 1947–1949, and then joined the National Football League for one season before folding...
, with whom he played in 1949 before retiring from professional sports for good.
Herman was the brother of Charlie Wedemeyer
Charlie Wedemeyer
Charlie Wedemeyer was a high school teacher and football coach, famous for continuing to teach and coach after contracting Lou Gehrig’s disease. He died on June 3, 2010, from pneumonia, a complication caused by a recent surgery. He was 64 years old.Charlie was the last of nine children born to...
, a former Michigan State football player who gained fame when, as a football coach at Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos High School is a high school in Los Gatos, California, a small town near San Jose in the Silicon Valley. Los Gatos High School was founded in 1908 and is part of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District...
, he contracted Lou Gehrig's Disease and continued to coach for many years, despite his handicap. He is the subject of a television movie called Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story.
Government service
In 1968, Wedemeyer was elected to the Honolulu City CouncilHonolulu City Council
The Honolulu City Council is the legislative branch of the City & County of Honolulu and is considered the second most powerful parliamentary body in the State of Hawaii, following the Hawaii State Legislature...
as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. In 1970, he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives
Hawaii House of Representatives
The Hawaii House of Representatives is the lower house of the Hawaii State Legislature. Accord to Article III, Section 3 of the Hawaii Constitution, amended during the 1978 constitutional convention, the House of Representatives consists of 51 members representing an equal amount of districts...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, winning re-election in 1972.
Hawaii Five-O
Wedemeyer played Edward D. "Duke" Lekela on Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
from 1971 to 1980, appearing in 143 episodes.
Filmography
- The HawaiiansThe Hawaiians (film)The Hawaiians is a 1970 American historical film based on the novel Hawaii by James A. Michener. It was directed by Tom Gries with a screenplay by James R. Webb. The cast included Charlton Heston as Whipple Hoxworth, and Geraldine Chaplin...
1970 - Hawaii Five-OHawaii Five-OHawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
(1968–1980) - Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
1981 - Hawaii Five-O (1997)